Well, here's another quote that seems to refute the idea that airships are restricted. This is lifted directly from the official ARR page.
So, it depends really on which you want to run with. That quote implies that commercial flight is growing. Both are from official sources, so it's hard to really debunk either one.
Quote:By pioneering the sky routes between the realm's major cities and establishing regular flights along them, Highwind Skyways, an institution founded by the exorbitantly wealthy aristocrat and adventurer Tatanora, is now slowly but surely making commercial flight an ordinary aspect of everyday life in Eorzea. Even so, only a few airships are permitted to take flight at any given time, for the Garlean Empire is always watching, ready to strike at the first sight of an enemy vessel.
So, it depends really on which you want to run with. That quote implies that commercial flight is growing. Both are from official sources, so it's hard to really debunk either one.